Previously on Smallville...
Just listen. That's when you let go.
Doctor Fate's final act
was to restore my Martian abilities.
So I will continue to protect and serve,
using every tool I've got.
This blood confirms my suspicions.
These things are alien.
I need a blood sample analyzed.
You're the one they call Watchtower.
Who are you?
They came after us.
They'll come after all of you.
Check. Check what?!
Agent Mercer.
We have a lot to catch up on.
There's an army of heroes .
Someone's collecting them.
It's just a question of who.
Welcome to the suicide squad.
[ Rattling ]
[ Whirring ]
[ Engine turns over ]
[ Gun cocks ]
[ Tires screech ]
You could use some conflict resolution.
Rule number one -- you don't shoot your date.
Rule number two -- think about your wardrobe choices.
You're one to talk.
Oh, no. Don't get me wrong. I love black on black.
It's just really hard to pull off.
It's easier than you think.
[ Grunting ] [ electricity crackling ]
And rule number three --
you got to know when to say good night.
Checkmate.
♪ Smallville 9x16 ♪ Checkmate Original Air Date on April 9, 2010
♪ Somebody save me ♪
â™ª "Save Me" performed by Remy Zero â™ª
â™ª let your warm hands break right through â™ª
♪ somebody save me ♪
♪ I don't care how you do it ♪
♪ just stay ♪
♪ stay ♪
♪ come on ♪
♪ I've been waiting for you ♪
♪ just stay with me ♪
♪ I've made this whole world shine for you ♪
♪ just stay ♪
♪ stay ♪
♪ come on ♪
-- Sync, corrected by elderman -- -- for www.addic7ed.Com --
[ keyboard clacking ]
[ Air whooshes ]
Did you try the power switch?
Didn't you see my texts? I lost Oliver.
He was tracking some armed men
followed them under the monorail,
and then it was like a massive mute button went on --
no radio, no beacon, nothing.
I'm sure it's fine.
Just because he doesn't check in --
you know, unlike some people,
Oliver actually follows protocol.
What protocol?
Exactly.
He and everyone else dial in with Watchtower
while they're on patrol.
Clark, you spend so much time watching everybody else's back,
you forget that we need to watch each other's backs, too.
Well, this isn't about us.
Did you check the local security cameras?
Every surveillance feed is down --
atms, traffic lights, convenience stores.
It's like someone threw a big blanket over the whole area.
[ Deep mechanical sound ]
You fixed it.
Or whoever did this finished what they started.
[ Beeping ]
Where is that?
That's where I saw Oliver last.
[ Beeping ]
John Jones?
Well, your buddy system works.
I didn't call him.
[ Air whooshes ]
Clark.
What are you doing here?
Looking for any sign of Oliver.
You didn't know he was missing?
He was here on patrol wen Watchtower lost contact.
Well, I'm here on police business.
But I'll keep an eye out.
It'll be faster if we work together.
Unless you've already found something.
You need to trust me, Clark.
You first.
What do you know, John?
[ Sighs ]
You shouldn't have done that, Clark.
Radio ahead.
We're 20 minutes to the airfield.
Waller: Stand down, Agent Mercer.
[ Chuckles ] You know the rules.
You don't have clearance to peek under the hood.
I was just making sure that our acquisition was still secure.
I'm sure you were. [ scoffs ]
Oh. Congratulations.
You were able to re-engage so quickly
after being dormant so long.
Dismissed.
[ Electricity crackling ]
[ Groans ]
Green Arrow, welcome to Checkmate.
I think you've got the wrong Green Arrow.
I don't remember signing up for any chess club.
You are a guest of the U.S. government.
And the time has come for you to do your patriotic duty.
Yeah, well, I didn't know
Uncle Sam was into drugs and bondage.
Kind of gives a whole new meaning
to the "I Want You" posters, doesn't it?
Well, I'm sorry you think these tactics are crude.
But I fear for our country's security.
That's why I'm recruiting capable people like you.
Recruitment?
Well, I got to tell you,
it feels more like kidnapping than a booth at a job fair.
Well, call it what you want.
[ Handcuffs click ] But it's time you elevated your service to your country.
You have a long plane ride coming to think it over.
[ Handcuffs click ]
[ Tires screech ]
Jones: Agent lott.
What do you want?
I'm afraid you've made a critical error.
I believe this is yours.
Tell me the location of Checkmate's Headquarters --
the place you call the castle.
Who are you working for?
Someone who will not hesitate to expose your double life.
[ Click ]
[ breathing shakily ]
[ Gasps ]
[ Vehicle approaches ]
[ Engine shuts off, car door opens ]
Waller: Clearly, you are rusty.
You think I didn't know the second we lost him?
Did you properly secure the detainee?
He had a hidden lock pick.
The correct answer is
"no, I did not properly secure the detainee"!
I'm disappointed, Tess.
Green Arrow may not have been the endgame,
but he was our opening move.
I can get him back.
I'll set a new net myself.
You skipped... A few ceck-ins...
The last few years.
Maybe your loyalties lie with someone else.
I swear...
I am fully committed to Checkmate.
You better be.
Or you're out.
And we both know there is only one way out.
[ Pounds truck ]
[ Keyboard clacking ]
Chloe, seems to be taking longer than normal
to find an earwig serial number.
That's because someone's hidden it,
but after cross-referencing those last four digits, Clark,
I think that the earpiece in John's pocket
was government-issued.
Why would the government take Green Arrow?
Oliver: Considering what I pay out every year,
it better not be for tax evasion.
Oh, my God. You're safe.
Of course I'm sfe. [ chuckles ]
I'm glad you're safe, too.
You want to fill us in on what happened?
Definitely.
Absolutly. Uh, so, let's see.
One minute, I am saving someone's bacon.
Next thing I know, I'm the only pig on a pork-chop express.
Some harpy gets on a monitor.
She starts telling me this is the welcome wagon
and she's recruiting heroes for the U.S. of A.
I'm guessing you didn't get the evite.
No, someone else did.
And that explains why John Jones was covering for them.
Did this woman give you her name?
Nope. No name.
Just that her organization was called Checkmate.
Wait a minute -- Check...Mate?
When Sylvester Pemberton from the justice society
was murdered, he warned me that,
"they came after us, and they'll come after you."
His dying word was "Check."
If he meant "Checkmate,"
these are the same people who took down the JSA.
I searched the archived security footage
that was taken from the cameras across the city.
This was taken a few hours ago.
That was right after I confronted him.
Who's he talking to?
[ Beeping ]
We got a hit from the passport agency.
Edward Lott.
He's the C.E.O. of a consumer manufacturing company.
He seems pretty high-profile for a secret-gent man.
Well, maybe they recruit people
that are already established in the private sector.
Or plant them there.
[ Beeping ]
You're not gonna be happy where he was planted next.
Within an hour after this footage was taken,
he was on the list of Metropolis General morgue.
Whoa. Slow down, guys.
You can't think John murdered this guy.
Come on, now.
Clark, I'll come with you. I can --
[ air whooshes ]
... support onsite.
Looks like you got benched.
Sylvester Pemberton came to warn me about Checkmate
the moment that he was attacked by...
Icicle.
Huh.
Well, either that's quaintly coincidental
or he's working for the same lovely lady
whose gaze wilts small trees.
What do you think?
Last I heard, he was in the psych ward at Met Gen.
Let's go.
You know, Oliver...
Now that Green Arrow is officially on Checkmate's radar,
I think it might be a good idea
for you to just hang your tights for one nigt...
Go civilian.
Well, t-they're not tights.
They're not tights.
But I see your point. Yeah. Hmm.
Unfortunately for me,
that means attending a Luthorcorp shareholder dinner,
which...
Yeah, I'd rather be shot at.
Hey, Chloe, um...
Just -- I was just gonna say be careful out there,
'cause it...
There's Checkmate agents everywhere, so...
Be careful.
Hm.
[ Crickets chirping ]
[ Indistinct conversations ]
You're late.
Mm.
If you know what's good for you, don't start.
[ Chuckles ]
Whatever kind of day you think you've had,
trust me -- I've had it in spades.
Ohhh.
What happened? The jet late leavin Paris?
The beluga not the right temperature?
That's very, very funny. Yeah.
You might want to save the song-and-dance routine
for the shareholders when you try to explain to them,
uh, the sketchy deal with China.
It's terrible.
So that's what got you out of bed before the dinner bell.
I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Barely had time to change clothes, actually.
I can tell.
Black on black.
That's hard to pull off.
Well, it's easier than you think.
Green Arrow.
[ Indistinct conversations ]
Tess.
[ Air whooshes ]
[ Door opens ]
[ Air whooshes ]
Thank you for coming, Detective Jones.
You know who I am.
[ Chuces ]
Don't be so naive.
Where's the rest of your team?
I came alone.
Ah.
All for the better.
I was hoping I would get the chance to enlist you.
But I have the feeling somebody already has --
somebody with a very high level of intel.
[ Chuckles ]
You came for what's in there, didn't you?
That doesn't belong to you.
That blood traveled light-years to get here.
And it's foreshadowing a threat
we will not tke lightly.
Your prepartions for war are unnecessary.
You're simply reacting out of fear.
Fear?
Fear is what prompts us to protect ourselves.
And stuying fear gives us insight to others' phobias.
[ Beep ]
A police Detective who won't go near fire.
[ Chuckles ]
Makes it hard to protect and serve, doesn't it?
Excuse me. Those are my charts.
Dr. Brenner. I was looking for you.
You were the evaluating doctor on several patients
who came through the psych ward in Met Gen
who were... special.
Unless you are directly related,
I'm afraid I can't discuss patient information.
Um, none of them actually made it to Belle Reve
after you signed off on their transfer,
including Cameron Mahkent.
Well, once I sign off,
those people belong to Belle Reve.
Why don't you take it up with them?
Well, that's just the thing.
Belle Reve was never even notified that they were coming.
Look, young lady,
if you don't leave immediately, I will call security.
No. That's not necessary.
I was just trying to get some answers.
[ Beep ]
[ Beeping ]
[ Beep ]
I'm sorry. Perhaps I was a bit abrasive.
It's been a really long day.
I'll tell you what.
Why don't I walk you down to archives,
and we'll see if we can't clear this up?
That's the bedside manner they say has been missing.
Please follow me this way to the dining room.
The only way you'd get me back in here is by force.
Don't flatter yourself.
The best thing I ever did in this be was kick you out of it.
That's something out of your mouth I can believe.
So it's you...
parading around in tacky green leather.
It was me.
I can't believe you wear tights.
They're not tights.
Hey.
They're not tights.
They look like tights.
You've beeeping more secrets than Lex ever had.
Isn't that right?
Who knows how many deals were sealed right here?
You buried an arrow into my chest, Oliver.
Actually... It was a taser.
Well, it bruised.
Well, better bruised than dead.
What, are you crazy, Tess? This isn't a cartoon.
You're gonna hurt somebody
that's the basic idea.
All right, then.
Don't you come near me.
[ Air whooshes ] Stop!
Stay out of this, Clark.
Our little lady here is a Checkmate Agent.
She knows my identity.
Not just yours.
Tess, I need some answers.
I'm not telling you anything.
Well, maybe the view will change your mind.
[ Air whooshes ]
[ Gasps ]
Let me down from here!
Tell me about Checkmate.
No lies.
[ Breathing heavily ]
A month after I started working at Luthorcorp,
I was approached by the white queen.
It's Waller's code name.
She wanted information about Lex's alien investigations.
At first, I thought she was crazy.
But then Lex's files changed your mind.
After I took over Luthorcorp,
I saw she knew a lot more than I did.
But I swear -- I never told her the Kryptonians were here.
I never told her about you.
[ Air whooshes ] [ gasps ]
I wouldn't believe your dying breath.
[ Voice breaking ] None of this should have happened.
Oliver wasn't even the real target.
Then who was?
I don't know.
Something they called "Watchtower."
[ Grunts ]
What the hell do you want? Round 2?
Oliver, Clark's in trouble.
Well, you know, Tess,
if you wanted a rematch, all you had to do was ask.
I'm serious.
He made me tell him where Checkmate's headquarters are
after he found out they captured something called "Watchtower."
Waller: [ muffled ] Somebody get in here!
Soldiers! I need your help!
[ Fire crackling ]
Get me out of here!
The prisoner overpowered me!
[ Beeping ]
No alarms have been reported yet
[ beeping ]
There's no sign of Jones.
That's because I'm still here.
[ Air whooshes ]
I must say, I liked your colors better
when they were more... Patriotic.
Kidnapping is illegal -- even for the government.
I don't have time for polite requsts.
I have reason to believe there are aliens among us.
They have designs much bigger than just getting green cards.
I need your help
to do what?
Chase down rumors and U.F.O. Stories?
What if I have proof -- actual alien blood?
The keystone to World War III?
Maybe these aliens aren't here to start a war.
If you don't stand with us, you stand against us.
It's time for you to pick a side.
Maybe this will help your indecisiveness.
[ Beep ]
Stand ready for immediate orders.
Let her go.
I'm not being unreasonable.
If you step forward, out of the shadows,
I will let Watchtower go.
Release her now.
You sure are nice to look at.
But I like to have my cake and eat it, too.
Mmm.
I want your loyalty to Checkmate.
Nuh!
Anything happens to me, and bye-bye, blondie.
I know you're fast.
But you can't stop a bullet
when you don't know where she is.
Tha would be murder.
[ Scoffs ]
It's not murder. It's strategy.
Something you could have used more of before coming here.
What more do you want?
The location of Watchtower's central database.
You're after everyone who's ever worked at Watchtower.
Names, faces, addresses.
The Black Canary, Impulse, Aquaman, Cyborg.
I need people with the abilities
to end the war quickly and decisively.
It's your move.
Even if I gave you Watchtower's database,
you know I'll come after you.
The Blur.
He patrols the streets of Metropolis,
protecting every citizen he can.
But he -- he lets the most valuable ally
fend for herself.
I did not abandon her.
Didn't you?
You left your greatest asset vulnerable.
All you have to do to save her life
is give one simple address.
[ Alarm blaring ]
Guard: Come in, white queen.
Showing external power breach.
Am I clear to shoot? Over
[ gun cocks ]
[ Air wooshes ]
[ Air whooshes ]
[ Blaring continues ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Air whooshes ]
[ Blaring continues ]
[ Air whooshes ]
Boy, am I glad to see your friendly face.
[ Handcuffs click ]
Did you, uh...
No. I didn't tell her anything.
At least we have that.
I'm sorry, Chloe.
I'm sorry for everything.
I think we're both a day late and a dollar short
in that department.
But I abandoned you.
I keep seeing you on the sidelines,
but the truth is, with Watchtower,
you're right in the middle of the game.
You didn't abandon me, Clark.
You pushed me out of the way
maybe I thought you'd be safer there.
Maybe you just didn't trust me.
I've broken your confidence in me, Clark.
You saw Watchtower as Big Brother,
and you turned away.
The less you confided in me,
the less you have to depend on me.
It's smart...Probably.
I didn't give you enough credit.
You're the one who brought us together.
You're the one who saw our potential.
That potential's gonna be short-lived.
Waller saw our faces,
and she's not gonna stop coming after us.
[ Door opens ]
Tell me you caught them.
I can't wait to see the defeat on their faces.
[ Air whooshes ]
I didn't think you were gonna show.
Well, you know, I figure it's a public place.
There's only so many weapons you can throw at me.
I'm sorry.
For everything I've done that's destroyed your trust.
I don't think there's enough stationery for that, Tess.
I told you how to shut down the castle's power grid.
That's worth something, isn't it?
What am I supposed to do here?
You want me to do, uh, handstands
because you helped solve a problem that you created?
I never would have gone after you
if I had known that you were the Green Arrow.
So, it's back on me?
This might be the last time that I ever see you.
When I joined Checkmate, I took an oath.
An oath I want to break.
But there's only one way to leave Checkmate.
[ Sighs ]
What are you gonna do?
[ Clears throat ]
I'm gonna go awol.
I'm gonna go underground.
That's good.
You know, I got to ask you a question, though.
Did it hurt to do something moral for once, Tess?
Did it hurt you?
Oliver...
I'm taking a chance
just being out here with you in the open.
Yeah, okay, I understand that. Okay, we've gotten that far.
W-what is it that you want? You're asking me for something.
What is it you want? What do you want?
Forgive me, Oliver.
Oliver, I need your help.
Please.
There are moments when I wish I could go back --
those santorini sunsets...
your freckles...
and your big dreams of changing the world.
Back when I could trust you.
Then you betrayed me, Tess.
You, of all people.
And you ever...
come near me or my friends ever again...
I will expose you to the world.
Do you understand?
[ Breathes shakily ]
Chloe: Hi.
Hey.
Thanks for keeping my seat warm at Watchtower.
Well, you're welcome. Don't get used to it.
Oh, but your timing is so good.
I mean, if you hadn't
flipped that castle's electric switch when you did,
I would have b-- Chloe.
But, you know, I kind of liked being out in the field,
knowing I had a warm bed to come home to.
That's very, very funny.
It scared the life out of me.
You better be careful, Ollie.
I'm gonna start to think you're falling for me.
Your identity's safe -- for now.
She's not wrong, you know -- Waller.
How so?
When I saw the future,
Zod and his people had already started World War III,
and we weren't winning.
She was right about being prepared.
Because as much as I want to believe
that I've stopped that day from happening, it still might.
You don't have to join her.
No.
But, like she said, eventually I have to choose sides.
You can't.
[ Sighs ]
You are here for something far greater, Clark.
You will be the ambassador
who bridges all the sides together.
What were you doing, John? Why not include the rst of us?
I would have told the team what was going on.
But I wanted you and the rest of them
to stay off Checkmate's radar.
But you're not in this alone.
Who are you working for?
Let's just say that...
there are more players on the board than you think.
And when it comes to choosing sides...
... things aren't always black and white.
I want the report of Agent Mercer's last physical.
When our system's back up,
do you want to move forward with our operation
[ beeping ]
Who's been in here?
No one. We're secured.
We won't be renewing the operation.
We've been blocked by a new player.
It's time for a new game.
-- Sync, corrected by elderman -- -- for www.addic7ed.Com --